Quote

Labels

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Confessions of a Brunette on the Internet 66

My friend Danny's status on gmail said "Time to build in Ark!". I don't know why... but it really made me laugh. It has been raining a lot this week. Mountain Man and I have this thing.... at the end of Winter we were really wanting the sun to come out and so he mentioned talking to the weather committee about it. I asked him how this all worked and as always he has a great explanation for everything. He is so funny. So when all the lay off's were happening at Novell and he was checking in on me he said... "Well, at least the weather committee has come through" (because it was nice and sunny then) and now I have been texting him telling him to talk to the weather committee again because I am ready for the rain to stop. Only to hear back from him telling me the committee is out on a fact finding mission in Costa Rica and will be back later. Ha! Ok... maybe its only funny to me.

Speaking of Mountain Man... his text messages are my favorite to get... because they are so funny. He is always so cleaver with his responses. I find him so funny that who ever is with me, I read his text messages to them. Little does he know he has a little fan club. My roommate was pretty excited to meet him last weekend.

So... my Grandpa's funeral or not funeral... whatever is going down is tomorrow morning. Of course I didn't find this out until yesterday and buying a ticket to AZ was almost $400 round trip and I am going next weekend and couldn't justify spending the money or driving by myself.... anyway, I really tried to make it work but it doesn't look like I will be going and I am pretty bummed about it. I really did try and think of different ways I could make it work. I know my sister is bummed about not going too. I got a really sweet card in the mail today from my good friend Desiree saying sorry about my grandpa and it made my day. She is so sweet and thoughtful.

So... I know that I started the Hunger Games series a long time ago... I mean a LONG time ago..... but I just finished it the other day. Its not that I didn't like it, I did.... A lot. It just takes me a while to get into books. I even found this one very interesting, but for the first half of the book I just put other things as a priority over reading as I usually do, so I always let it wait. Finally... I realized one of my goals this year was to read a book a month and I realized how I have NOT been doing that, but that I would still count a book a month if I read 4 books and caught up to where I should be. So I got into reading The Hunger Games again and couldn't put it down. I started bringing it to work and reading on my lunch break. I finished it and then yesterday started Catching Fire and am almost done with it (that is how much of a reader I can be once I am into a story... I'm in book prison) and then I will read Mockingjay just as quickly I'm sure and then I will only have 1 more book to read to be caught up. Not too shabby. I'm pretty determined when it comes to accomplishing my goals.

Last night I went to Institute as I normally do. There were long lines to get in, which is normal (because we have to sign a roll so they know how much food to get every week) and some guy just coming out of class came up and asked us what exciting thing we were standing in line for. I told him Institute. He had a shocked look on his face... so I said "Yep, our Institute is THAT awesome" and he walked away. Its true though... I don't think I have ever enjoyed institute as much as I do in my stake now. David Neilson is my favorite teacher... hands down.

Tonight was my last time tutoring. The program is ending (as far as getting help from our stake goes) at the end of this month and I am going to be out of town next Thursday. I think the change they are making is going to be a lot better for the kids. I am glad for the change. Now I feel like I can do things with the ward since they seem to schedule everything on Thursday nights at 7 (when tutoring is). It was a really great experience to tutor these kids for the last year and a half that I have been helping out. It has been a great learning experience for me and I hope that I have made a difference for at least a few of the kids. Although many nights have been frustrating... there were also a lot of good times. I am excited to find a new way to serve though. I am not sure what to do yet... but I am looking for something I can do somewhat regularly. I will let you know when I find it. In the meantime... I will miss the people that I would tutor with (the regulars anyway) and I will miss most of the kids. Like this little guy who I call my little Curious George. I have been reading with him the last several weeks. All he wants to read are Curious George books. He gets SO excited about them. He is a cute kid. :o) I'm thankful for those kids and thankful for the opportunity I had to serve them. As this chapter closes... I am excited to see which chapter opens next for me.

Have you looked into Safety Net Mentors? I did it for four years and absolutely loved it. You choose or get assigned a child and you meet with them once a week (whenever time works best for you guys). Then you simply spend time with them. The purpose it to give them a responsible and caring mentor they can turn to in need. I'm still in contact with my little girl (although she's grown up in high school now!) Anyway, I loved my experience with the program. You should look into it :)

i'm sure those kids are going to miss you Tracy. Good job reading, i would never be able to catch up... unless i could count the books i read to William :)Grandpas service was short and sweet and most of the family was in attendence "in spirit" like you. Jacob and David were the only cousins there... Lisa almost had her baby trying to get there and had to turn around :) Hopefully we will have a big 80th for Grandma this July and all get together then!

I'm sorry you couldn't be there for your grandpa's funeral. I'm glad you got my card and it made your day though. :) I love our friendship and hope to be there when I can. PS. There's always working in the temple. I know I LOVED it. I think you'd love it too. Just a thought...